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Nutrition And Benefits Of Carob: The Best Cocoa Substitute Ever!

Nutrition And Benefits Of Carob: The Best Cocoa Substitute Ever!Swathi HandooFebruary 18, 2019

Chocolate is the ultimate game-changer in many situations. But eating it daily in generous amounts can impact your health. Does that mean people like me have no hope? Well, what if I told you there is a fruit that is twice as healthy as chocolate and tastes equally good? Yes! The name is carob.

Carob is a Mediterranean tree that has pod-like fruits. These pulpy fruits are known for producing a gum that is used in the food and beverage industry. Interestingly, carob is gaining therapeutic and pharmaceutical importance too. What are its benefits and how is it the best cocoa substitute ever? Curious much? Start scrolling!

Table Of Contents

Carob Fruit: In-depth

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The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a Mediterranean tree of high economic and therapeutic importance. Its fruit is pod-like, brown, and made of pulp and seeds (1).

Carob fruit pulp is generally high in sugars, like sucrose, fructose, and glucose. It contains 48%-56% sugars and 18% cellulose and hemicellulose. Researchers believe that these pods are exceptionally rich in bioactive ingredients (1).

Carob fruits contain phytochemicals like tannins, dietary fibers, cyclitols, and polyphenols. The best part about them is their low-fat percentage. These phytochemicals can have a range of benefits, including antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-diarrheal, and anti-lipolytic properties (1).

Let’s take a look at the bright side of carob.

High-on-Carob!

Carob seeds are commercially important because of their carob bean gum (CBG) a.k.a locust bean gum (LBG). Made from the endosperm of the carob seed, LBG is widely used as a thickener and stabilizer in the food industry.

Chemically, LBG is a galactomannan polysaccharide with galactose and mannose residues. It is biocompatible, bioresorbable, and biodegradable.

LBG is also used as a carrier agent for the controlled release of drugs – alone or with other carrier molecules.

Carob fruit is caffeine- and theobromine-free. It is used as a replacement for cocoa in several decaf foods.

Carob fruit is one of the richest sources of gallic acid, between 23.7 mg/ 100 g and 164.7 mg/100 g!

In What Ways Can Carob Benefit Your Health?

1. Might Treat GERD And Ulcers And Protect The GI Tract

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Pathogenic invasions can trigger the production of free radicals in your body. Your gut seems to be the most affected in this process. The reactive oxygen species can damage the inner linings (mucosa) of the GI tract organs. This leads to the development of several gastrointestinal disorders like gastritis, ulcers, gastric cancer, dyspepsia, etc. (2).

Carob extracts can be of great help in such cases. Carob tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds possess high free radical scavenging activity. They protect the gastric mucosa and prevent pathogenic invasion (2).

In a rat study, tannins from carob extract could prevent the development of gastric ulcers by inducing constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction). Also, flavonoids showed active anti-ulcer and gastroprotective properties by maintaining gastric mucosal integrity (2).

2. Can Help Manage Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea is another common side effect of a bacterial or viral attack on your body. It is twice as worse to control and treat diarrhea in infants and children.

In a placebo-controlled study, 3 to 21 month-old infants (with diarrhea) were fed 1.5g/kg tannin-rich carob powder every day for 6 days. It was observed that infants on carob powder recouped quicker than their counterparts (3).

These infants had normal defecation, body temperature, and reduced vomitings. Carob powder was well accepted in infants and did not show any signs of intolerance.

3. Is A Potent Antidiabetic Agent

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Traditional medicine touts carob to be a powerful antidiabetic agent. The soluble fibers in carob seed gum can alter the structure of carbohydrates during digestion. The fiber reduces the rate of carbohydrate degradation and controls your blood glucose levels (4).

One of the mechanisms behind this antidiabetic property is that carob can inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase involved in carbohydrate metabolism.

The fruit pulp also contains flavonoids, tannins, and other antioxidants. These protect the pancreatic cells from oxidative damage and control the severity of this autoimmune disease (4).

Some claim that carob pulp can increase insulin sensitivity. But there is insufficient evidence supporting this claim. However, carob fruit can regulate hyperglycemia and improve glucose tolerance (5).

4. Controls Body Weight, Hyperlipidemia, And Cholesterol

Locust bean gum (LBG) or carob seed gum from carob pulp has anti-hyperlipidemic properties. When carob powder was administered to hyperlipidemic rats, there was a dose-dependent reduction in their lipid and cholesterol levels.

These carob-fed rats also showed histopathological normalcy of heart and kidneys – unlike those that were hyperlipidemic. Thus, carob phytochemicals can prevent chronic disorders like atherosclerosis in overweight and obese individuals (1).

Rabbit studies show that insoluble carob fibers affect lipid metabolism. The polyphenol-rich fiber extract enhances the expression of the LDL receptor. It also boosts the cholesterol-metabolizing enzymes. This can protect your liver from lipid accumulation and peroxidation-induced damage (6), (1).

It is evident that almost all the above benefits are linked to oxidative stress. Carob fruit has what it takes to eliminate free radicals and other factors. They are called phytochemicals. Let’s see what active ingredients carob fruits contain.

Nutritional And Phytochemical Profile Of Carob Fruit

Carob fruit has a significant amount of sugars in the pulp. Sucrose is the most abundant sugar found in carob (about 52% dry matter), and fructose and glucose are present in small amounts.

Fiber is another component of carob pulp (about 30-40%) (1). This fruit has more insoluble fiber than the soluble fraction. So, you can find more hemicellulose, pectin, cellulose, lignins, and other polyphenols and only about 10% of soluble fiber (1).

Locust bean gum, the white to creamy-white endosperm of carob seed, is of high economic importance. It is mainly composed of galactomannans that are high molecular weight polysaccharides. It is because of these non-fermentable polysaccharides that LBG has been used in jellies, baby foods, etc. (1).

Macrominerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium have been identified in varying concentrations. Calcium content could be 300 mg/ 100g (d.w) while potassium ranges between 90-1120 mg/100g (d.w).

How To Eat Carob? What Are The Various Forms In Which It Is Currently Available?

Carob fruit is, slowly but steadily, gaining popularity among health freaks as a healthy replacement for cocoa and coffee. As it is caffeine- and theobromine-free, and has a low glycemic index and negligible fats, you can use carob in your daily cooking.

You can replace the chocolate in muffins, cookies, bars, candies, cakes, and sauces with carob powder from seedless carob pods. You can check it out here.

The Bottom Line…

Carob is becoming increasingly popular for its health benefits. Apart from the industrial importance of the gum, carob fruits have antidiabetic, anti-diarrheal, antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, and several healing properties.

With an array of mind-blowing benefits and applications, carob is, undoubtedly, an ideal superfood. If you agree with us, please share your views, queries, and feedback in the comments section below.

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